MARQUETTE, Mich. –The Northern Michigan University hockey team is taking to the road for a second consecutive weekend as the team heads to Bemidji, Minnesota, for a two-game non-conference series against the Bemidji State Beavers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The ‘Cats and Beavers will face-off at 7:37 (CT) on Friday, November 26, and at 7:07 (CT) on Saturday, November 27. The Wildcats have never travelled to Bemidji State as the Wildcats and Beavers have only played two games with that series being played in the Berry Events Center in Marquette, Michigan, back in 2009. The teams tied 3-3 in the first meeting and the ‘Cats lost 5-0 in the second meeting.

Entering the weekend the ‘Cats are tied for fifth place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with a 5-4-1-0 conference record and a 5-6-2 overall record. The Beavers are tied for ninth place in the WCHA with a conference and overall record of 2-7-1.

The Wildcats will look to CCHA Goaltender of the Week, Reid Ellingson, to continue his defensive front as they head into the series against the Beavers. Last weekend Ellingson stopped 75 of 77 of Alaska’s shots to increase his saves percentage to .917 on the year. Currently for the season, Ellingson has 2.50 goals-against average. The junior from Cloquet, Minnesota, is 10thin the CCHA for goals-against, and is second for save percentages.

The Wildcats are led offensively by Tyler Gron, Andrew Cherniwchan and Justin Florek. Gron has six goals and six assists for 12 points on the season. Cherniwchan has five goals, five assists and 10 points, while Florek has five, four, and nine, respectively.

The Wildcats have been scoring more goals in the third period than in either of the first two stanzas and are outscoring their opponents 14-11 in the third period. The ‘Cats have eight goals in each of the first two periods in the 2010-11 season. The ‘Cats have allowed 14 first period goals and 11 second period goals.

The ‘Cats continue to be out-shot by their opponents (440-351) and have scored 30 goals in comparison to the 37 scored by their opponents. Of those goals, power plays seem to be the difference maker. The ‘Cats have seven power play goals on the season while their opponents have 18. Empty net goals favor the ‘Cats as they have two on the season in comparison to not allowing any by their opponents.